Living and working

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is the home and work place for about 20,000 people. Over 97% of the land in the National Park is privately owned.

District and County councils have the primary role in providing services for the residents of the National Park. The National Park Authority is the statutory planning authority for the area and responsible for developing planning policy.

The National Park Management Plan sets out the ambitions for how the National Park will be looked after over the next five to ten years. It aims to guide and focus the work of organisations to secure a prosperous future for the National Park and its communities.

The National Park Authority tries to balance the needs of conservation with the social and economic wellbeing of local communities. We offer a range of help and guidance to residents, local businesses and communities which includes: